Category: FAQs

As a solo female traveller, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to feel safe in some destinations. My male friends always rave about xyz city, claiming it’s safe, but more than three times I’ve been there, I still don’t feel safe. Whether I am walking a block away from my hotel, or wearing an oversized shirt and baggy pants to not attract attention, men can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves or stop being creepy. I know not all men are like this, and there are some wonderful men out there, but it still gets so exhausting.

I wish the people who cat call and follow you would just fuck off, and that some men would understand the difficulties of solo female travel. I’m not even staying in sketchy areas, either – I’ve done my research and read the reviews.

Sometimes it’s almost better to befriend a male nearby, as they can usually act as a deterrent. But even that doesn’t always work. So, what else can we do to protect ourselves as female travellers? I’m talking specifically about central/Latin American destinations.

Let me know your suggestions in the comments!

If you ever find yourself feeling unsafe, it’s important to report it. Recently, I stayed in a hostel for a week and one night found myself in an uncomfortable situation. I was in bed reading when a man came into the dorm. I was giving him one-word answers, trying to show that I wasn’t interested in talking, but he didn’t catch my cues. He then insisted I get out of bed so he could “demonstrate” something he learned in Tango class. I thought this would get him to stop, but it only made things worse. He immediately tried to kiss me and, despite my protests, kept trying to get me to agree. Finally, he gave in and left, but I was shaken and not sure what to do next.

It can be incredibly embarrassing and intimidating to be on the receiving end of unwanted sexual attention. It can also be difficult to know whether or not to report it. Will anyone believe you? Will they think you’re being overly dramatic? Is this kind of behavior normal? After doing some research, I decided to report it and, thankfully, my hostel immediately moved me to a private room. This showed me that they take sexual harassment seriously.

It’s important to remember that being made to feel unsafe is not normal. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable or scared, it’s important to report it and get the help you need. Don’t be afraid to speak up and stand up for yourself. It’s never okay to be in a situation where you feel unsafe.

I recently visited Ohrid, North Macedonia, and it’s a beautiful place, but I experienced a lot of racism from the children here. Being an American who is ethnically Chinese, I was subjected to kids screaming “Ching Chong,” “Suck a penis ch*nk,” “China! China!!,” and “Nihao” at me in just two days. It’s been very hard to move past this and it’s really put me off from traveling further into the Balkans.

I understand why this can happen in smaller towns, where there’s not much diversity and kids are not taught what is socially acceptable, but it’s still definitely not okay. I’m sorry this happened to you. Being of South Asian ethnicity myself, I recently had to deal with racism due to the influx of economic migrants into Bosnia and Croatia. I was almost hit by a car on purpose twice, followed, and yelled at to “go back.” I was even questioned about my route when crossing the border and a white girl even changed her seat because I was brown. These experiences leave a bad taste in my mouth and I don’t want to downplay anyone else’s experience of racism.

I think it’s mainly xenophobia in rural towns, but it’s still not acceptable. It’s true that this might not happen as much in bigger cities, but it’s still important to be aware of the possibility of racism in the Balkans. Even if you have good experiences, it’s still important to understand that this kind of racism can still exist and should be taken seriously.

I have found that people vary greatly from country to country, and that even a country with a reputation for being friendly can have its unfriendly moments. This is why I question any sweeping generalizations about how “friendly” a people are. For example, I spent some time in Nepal and found the people to be overwhelmingly nice, but this doesn’t mean that the same experience will apply to everyone.

Friendly and polite are often mistaken for one another, but they are quite different. I have met many polite people who I wouldn’t feel comfortable around; and many friendly people who are not necessarily polite.

I have heard reports from people of color, Arab and Asians who have had some very bad experiences in some places due to blatant racism. This is why I always question any statement that “X nationality is very friendly”. I find that how people treat their friends doesn’t vary that much from country to country, but how they treat strangers, acquaintances, and foreigners does. It could be that the culture encourages a greater social distance with strangers or outsiders, and this could be related to sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, etc. that manifest in a society and can greatly affect experiences at the individual level.

It is clear that “friendly” is often a stand-in for “accommodating to tourists”, especially when those working in the tourism industry have no choice. This is why it is important to be aware of the differences between friendly and polite, and to question any sweeping statements about a nation’s people. Everyone’s experience will be different and it is important to keep an open mind.

Do you ever feel like travel vloggers have become a cliché? From their titles and thumbnails to the content of their videos, it’s all the same. Titles like “Is this Saudi Arabia????”, “is this Latvia?”, “I did not expect this!!!”, “SHOCKING first experience!”, and “our first time in Brunei (we did not like it)”; it all becomes very repetitive. Not to mention the thumbnails usually feature a face with the mouth open. It’s like they all copied each other and now they’re just part of the same cycle.

Sure, it’s cool when they say “This is my 70th country!” or “This is the 150th city I have visited”, but why not say something more meaningful like “This is the 28th museum or zoo I’ve been to”, which is much more interesting. Also, it seems like 75% of the video is the vlogger brushing their teeth, or going “wooow” or “waa that is the most beautiful beach ever!! Also mandatory “wooow the locals here are so friendly guys!!!” – it’s become so boring.

And then there’s the drone shots that come with the same modern millennial music. When I travel to a place, that’s not the view I’m going to get, so why should I be interested in seeing it through someone else’s camera?

Finally, there are those vloggers who just regurgitate whatever they just read or heard in 5 to 10 minutes. If I wanted to know about the history of the place, I’d rather read an encyclopaedia than listen to some obscure vlogger. And it’s annoying how some of them only spend 5 days in the country, and yet they act like experts on the place.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way – travel vlogging has become so repetitive and boring, and there’s nothing new or exciting about it. It’s like they’ve all become part of the same cycle. So why watch them when you can explore the world yourself?

I’m a big believer in the power of music to transport us back to a moment in time. Whether it’s a song that takes you back to a time of joy or a time of sorrow, music has the power to evoke strong emotions. That’s why I always try to find a song that I can associate with the places I visit.

When I’m traveling, I’m constantly on the lookout for music that I can connect to the area I’m visiting. It can be something I hear in a cafe, a shop, or in the street. It doesn’t have to be a song I’m familiar with; it can be something I discover while I’m there. Sometimes I’ll make a playlist of songs that I’ve heard while I’m on my travels, so that I can relive the memories of the journey every time I listen to it.

One thing I’ve noticed when traveling is that often a song will be chosen for you. For example, when I was in Japan there was a telephone company using a One Direction song in their advertising. Everywhere I went I’d hear the song on billboards and posters. Now it’s the only One Direction song I know!

Another great way to connect a place to a song is to listen to an entire album that fits the vibe of the place you’re visiting. It might be something you have to search for, but the effort is worth it. Every time you listen to the album you’ll be taken back to the places you visited and the memories you made.

In my opinion, music is the perfect travel companion. So if you’re going on a journey, make sure you take a few hours to search for some songs and albums that you can associate with your travels. Listening to those songs when you come home will bring back all the good memories of your trip and the places you visited.

Last weekend I headed to Amsterdam for a special reason – to visit the Vermeer exhibition. I had booked a hostel ages ago when I bought the ticket, so I was all set with my accommodation. I checked in, but unfortunately I was kicked out. Apparently, there was an age restriction in place, and I was over the limit. I was told that this was mentioned on their website and on several places on booking, but when I checked, I only saw it in the booking terms and conditions right at the bottom of their Booking listing. I had to scramble to find an emergency room, and ended up paying twice the original amount.

I was really annoyed at this because usually the booking terms only include things like check in/out times, smoking, noise, etc. I now always make sure to check for such restrictions.

It turns out that the hostel had mentioned that guests over 35 who wanted to stay in mixed dorms may be asked to move to a private room at additional cost. Since I had booked a female dorm, I should not have been dumped.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had something like this happen. Most places put age limits in pretty prominent places, if they have them. It’s important to make sure to read the fine print, even if it’s not readily visible, to avoid such surprises.

It’s every person’s nightmare to be seated next to someone on a plane that is too affectionate. Last night, I experienced this first-hand. I was on a full flight home and seated next to a couple that took it a step too far. I’m talking making out, stroking, and moaning. It was like their economy seats were a bedroom. Even with babies crying left and right and people walking up and down the aisle constantly, they kept at it. I was doing my best to distract myself with noise-cancelling headphones, reading, etc. until the girl took out a blanket and I noticed her hand go in his pants. That was it, I had to move.

Fortunately, I had scoped out an empty seat on my way to the washroom. I asked the guy next to it if anyone was sitting there and he said no. I didn’t bother asking for permission, I quickly grabbed my stuff at the original seat and moved. It was a relief to be far away from the couple and their excessive PDA.

Nobody should ever have to experience this when they are simply trying to get home. That’s why I reported this to the airline staff and told some friends about it. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and respect those around you, especially on a plane. You can still be passionate but it should be done in a way that is respectful to everyone.

When traveling, I’ve always found the airport pickup process to be a bit of a hassle. With the ever-increasing airport fees and surge pricing, it can be quite costly. But I recently stumbled across a hack that can save you a lot of money. Instead of ordering a rideshare from the airport, I catch a shuttle to the nearest hotel and call the rideshare from there. Not only do I save money on the rideshare, but the hotel shuttle drivers never ask to see proof of a hotel reservation, so you don’t even need to check into a room.

I’m a Lyft driver in Los Angeles and I tell my passengers about this hack all the time. All those extra airport fees that Lyft, Uber, and other rideshares are charging are going directly to them, so why not find a way to save some money? The hack is surprisingly simple, and there’s usually an easy way to explain it if the shuttle driver asks why you’re there. Say you’re going to a meeting at the hotel or you’re just checking the area out.

This hack has been a game-changer for me and I’ve seen a dramatic decrease in the amount of money I spend on airport pickups. Plus, it’s often easier to find a hotel pickup than an Uber or Lyft, so it’s worth checking out. I’m sure other hotel managers would agree that they don’t care if you show up without a reservation. So if you’re looking for a way to save on airport pickups, this is one of the best travel hacks I’ve seen in a long time. Give it a try – you won’t be disappointed.

After three weeks of confidently getting around Vietnam on my own, I made the most rookie of rookie mistakes when I arrived in Nha Trang at 4AM. I stepped off the bus – the only passenger on the sleeper bus – and was immediately approached by the usual guys looking to take me on their bike. This time, however, I made the mistake of not ignoring them and instead told them I needed to charge my phone as it had died during the 9-hour journey.

Little did I know, the offer to charge my phone was too good to be true. Before I knew it, one of the guys had taken my bag and put it on his bike and we were off – no talk of money had been made. As we went to a cafe for me to charge my phone, I was handed a cigarette and asked where I was from. His friend followed on his bike while we chatted the best we could. In my tired state, I thought the two were just being nice and helping me out.

After my phone had charged, I showed them the address of my hostel and we were off. It wasn’t until we had arrived that I realized what a silly mistake I had made. Not only had I not asked how much I owed the two guys, but I had also foolishly not brought a USB charger. I was so close to getting away with it too.

Lesson learned: always stay alert and never trust the kindness of strangers in the early hours of the morning!